Device for introducing fluid in wells



United States Patent() DEVICE FOR INTRODUCING FLUID IN WELLS @lohn W.Graham, eliaire, and Nils L. Muench and Robert E. Williams, Houston,Tex.,lassignors, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production ResearchCompany,

Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Delaware IFiled Nov. 9, 1959,`Ser. No.851,840 6 Claims. .(Cl. 175--237) The present invention is directed to adevice for introducing fluid into a well. More particularly, theinvention is concerned with a device for vaccurately introducing ameasured amount of iiuid into a well. In its more specific aspects, theinvention is concerned with a device whereby duid may be introduced intoa well and the introduction of said uid is determined by an increase inpressure.

The present invention is concerned briey with a device for introducinguid into a well having Va pipe string arranged therein which comprises arigid cylindrical member adapted to be arranged in the pipe string andhaving an open bore and having an outside diameter less than the insidediameter of the pipe string. A deformable sleeve is tixedly attached tothe outer surface ofthe cylindrical member and the sleeve has an outsidediameter less than the inside diameter of the pipe string, the sleevebeing formed to provide at least one yprotuberance on its outer surfacefor `sealing engagement with the .inner surface of the pipe string. Aspherical deformable member is normally arranged in said bore and it hasra normal diameter greater than the diameter of the bore. Means areformed by the cylindrical member onone end thereof narrowing the borefor retaining the deformable member in the bore, the deformable memberbeing ejectable from the bore on the other end -thereof by imposition ofuid pressure against the one end and against the deformable member.

The present invention will be further described vby reference to thedrawing in which:

FIG. l is a sectional view of the adapter in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the apparatus in a drill string.

Referring now to the drawing in which identical numerals will beemployed to kdesignate identical parts and in which numeral 11,referring particularly to FIG. l, designates a drill string in which lanadapter generally indicated by the numeral 12 is arranged, the adapter12 is comprised of a metallic cylinder 13 which is formed on one endwith means 14 which narrows vthe lbore 15. Fixedly secured or adhered tothe outer surface of the cylinder 13 is a sleeve 16 made up of adeformable material such as synthetic or natural rubber. Other plasticor deformable Ymaterials may be used in making up the sleeve 16.

The sleeve 16 is suitably formed with protuberances 17 which arevertically spaced apart on the sleeve. The protuberances 17 serve toengage with the inner wall 17a of the drill pipe 11 and form a sealingengagement therewith.

Arranged in lthe bore 15 of the adapter =12 is a deformable member 18which may be constructed of synthetic or natural rubber. The deformablememberV 18 is normally of greater diameter than the diameter of the boreand is adapted to be pumped out of the bore 15 by imposition of pressureagainst the upper end of the adapter 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a drill `string 11 has' connected thereinto andforming part thereof drill collars 19 which may be 300 feet in length.The drill collars 19 have a passageway 20 which is of lesser diameterthan CII 3,620,964 Patented Feb. 13, 1962 rr* ICC 2 the passage I2-'1 ofthe drill pipe 11. The-drill collars 19 are "threadedly connected intothe drill string 1i by ymating threads 22, and attached to the lower4end 'of the drill collars 19by'matingthreads 23 is a Idrill bit 24which for purposes of illustration is shown 'as a lcone rock bit.

*In FIG. 2 the adapter 12 has been vinserted in the jdrill string 1I atthe wellhead, not shown, 'and Vhas been pumped down or allowed to falldown through vthe passageway'zl'u'ntil it reaches Ya shoulder '2'5 whichstops the adapter 12 and causes it to seat '.thereon. On imposition offluid pressure inthe passageway 2'1 the deformable member 18 is ejectedfrom the 'bore 15 and is caused to proceed downwardly in passageway 20and to seat on the shoulder of restriction 26 in Athe passageway 27 ofthe vdrill .bit 24. The shoulder 26 being adjacent to the lower end ofthe drill collars 19.

Thus, when the adapter 12 containing the deformable member '18 thereinis introduced at the wellhead, it proceeds downwardly to the passage 21until it reaches the shoulder 25, at which time a pressure build up` onthe pump forcing the adapter v12 downwardly indicates to theoperator-that the adapter 12 has reached the shoulder 2S.Thereaftenimposition of a greater `amount of pressure causes thedeformable member 18 to be ejected from the bore 15 to riiow downwardlythrough the passageway 20 until it reaches the 'shoulder V2.6, at whichtime another pressure surge on the pumps will Aindicate to -the'operator Vthat the deformable member 1li has closed olf the passageway27.

The present invention is adapted to and useful in spotting solutions ina Well. In employing the present invention, a deformable member, such as-a rubber ball as illustrated by the element 18 housed in adapter 12 inthe description taken with the drawing, is introduced in the drill pipeimmediately behind a solution which is -to -be injected. The rubber ballsuch as deformable member 18 'may have a diameter equal to the insidediameter of the drill collar or collars which form part `of the drillstring. When the solution is pumped down to bott-om, the -ball preventsmud from mixing with the solution and `gives ya rise in surface pressurewhen 'the solution -has reached the bottom of the well. When the adapterseats upon the shoulder 25, this signals It'o the operator that thesolution has reached vbottom and thereafter h'e may 4immediatelycontinue to' pump additional fluid and fcause the ball 18 to pump downuntil it reached the shoulder 26, which 'allows 4a measured amount ofthe solution to be introduced. Thus, -in employing the device' i'naccord'- ance with FIG. 2, the entire assembly including the adapterprovides separation while the solution is iny the drill pipe. The ballprovides separation when the solution reaches the drill collar. Inaddition, -the 'ball' prevents the solution from over-shooting when itreaches the required dept-h. .After completing the desired operation atthe bottom of the hole, introduction of -uid pressure in theannulusfbetween the wall of the well and the drill pipe allows the ball18 to be forced up the 'passageway 20 and then into the adapter 12 ,andcauses the adapter -12 to be returned to the wellhead, This is possible,because, as is clear from the description 'taken with the'drawing, theadapter 12 is free from any connections to the drill pipe.v

The present invention is particularly adaptedl for use in recoveringdamaged drill bits. Drill bit failure is'ns'ually due to bearing failureor to failure of the cutting: teeth. However, it is the bearing lifethat usually limits the life of the bit. If the drillI bit is used solong that the bearings do fail, then whenY the bit is withdrawn from thehole, one or more of the cones, or' the associated bearings andcutters', fall from the bit and remain at the bottom of the hole. Whenthis happens acostly and time consuming fishing job is usually required.To avoid the possibility of lost cones and fishing jobs, it is usuallythe custom to sacrifice some of the useful bit life in order to preventbearing failure. Perhaps as little as 10% or as much as 50% of theuseful bit life remains where the bit is withdrawn from the hole. In oilfield technology, this is called pulling a green bit and of course thereare various shades of green bits.

A tremendous incentive exists for preventing the pulling of the greenbits. In accordance with the present invention, it is now possible toreduce total bit costs and also reduce rig time cost such as is consumedfrom making round trips. This is possible by employing the presentinvention in which the bit which may have been used to the extent of itsuseful life is recovered. This is possible by employing the presentinvention and by injecting into the well down the drill string amaterial which is reactive in the area adjacent to the bit to cause theloose drill cones or cutters to remain adhered to the bit. This ispossible by using a thermosetting or thermoplastic material which may beintroduced as follows: For example, monomers or partially polymerizedreactants and catalyst, either in a mixture or in a suspension orsolution with `an inert carrier is spotted at the bit, using theapparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2. Thereafter, after spotting of the reactivematerial, the bit is rotated without circulation of fluid with bitweights which may range from 5,000 to about 50,000 pounds. This causesan immediate heating up in the area of the bit and causes the plasticmaterial to solidify. Thereafter, the bit is cooled for about 5 to about20 minutes and the bit with the attached junk such as roller cutters orcones is Withdrawn from the hole. In case the passageway 27 is notsealed by the plastic material, it may be desirable to reverse out orcirculate out unused plastic material which has not solidified; however,it is within the purview of our invention to pull the drill string wetor full of uid and let the iiuid remaining in the drill string spill onthe door of the rig. l

The bonding of the parts of the bit results from the extreme localizedtemperature generated at the metal-tometal contact in the presence of areactive mixture which either causes polymerization or melts apreviously polymerized plastic. The absence of circulatory coolingallows the metal temperature to reach a high value in a short time.

If a thermoplastic polymer is used, it may be spotted as either themonomer or polymer, either with catalyst or without, and either alone orin solution or suspension with -an inert carrier.

There are many polymer compositions which may be used which will wet orencapsulate the metal surfaces when it is hot and will harden when it iscooled. An example of such plastics are the thermosetting polymers, suchas phenol-formaldehyde, amine-formaldehyde, epoxy, urethane or latextype polymers, and many other thermosetting polymers. As examples of thethermoplastic materials may be mentioned polystyrene, polyesters,polyamides, or vinyl polymers and the like.

It may be seen that the present invention is quite useful in recoveringjunk from a hole. However, it is to be understood that the presentinvention is not limited to recovering junk. It may be used forinjecting any kind of solutions into a well bore, which solutions may beused to stimulate the well or the formations pierced by the drill bit.For example, the present invention may be used in fracturing operations,workover operations, and the like.

The present invention not only includes the adapter but also is intendedto include the drill collars which form a tubular member adapted to beconnected into and form part of the drill stream. It is contemplatedthat the adapter is seatable on the first shoulder adjacent theconnection to the drill pipe and the drill collars and also thedeformable member is seatable on the second 4 shoulder adjacent the endof the drill collars and in the drill bit.

The present invention is quite advantageous and useful and presents anew approach to injecting fluids into a well and also a new approach inrecovering junk from a well.

In recovering junk from a well it is possible to spot a given amount ofthe thermosetting or thermoplastic material without having an excess ofthe thermosetting or thermoplastic material to cause the drill pipe tostick in the well.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completelydescribed and illustrated, what we wish to claim as new and useful andsecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for introducing fluid into a well having a pipe stringarranged therein which comprises a free, rigid cylindrical member havingan open bore and having an outside diameter less than the insidediameter of said pipe string, said cylindrical member being adapted forinsertion in and movement through said pipe string, a deformable sleevefixedly attached to the outer surface of said cylindrical member, saidsleeve being formed for sealing engagement with the inner surface ofsaid pipe string, a deformable member normally arranged in said bore andhaving a diameter normally greater than the diameter of said bore, andmeans formed by said cylindrical member on its upper end thereofnarrowing said bore for retaining said deformable member in said bore,said deformable member being ejectable from said bore through its lowerend by imposition of fluid pressure against said upper end and againstsaid deformable member.

2. A device for introducing fluid into a well having a pipe stringarranged therein which comprises a free, rigid cylindrical member havingan open bore and having outside diameter less than the inside diameterof said pipe string, said cylindrical member being adapted for insertionin and movement through said pipe string, a deformable sleeve iixedlyattached to the outer surface of said cylindrical member and having anoutside diameter less than the inside diameter of said pipe string, saidsleeve being formed to provide a protuberance on the outer surface ofsaid sleeve for sealing engagement with the inner surface of said pipestring, a deformable mem ber normally arranged in said bore and having adiameter normally greater than the diameter of said bore, and meansformed by said cylindrical member on its upper end thereof narrowingsaid bore for retaining said dcformable member in said bore, saiddeformable member being ejectable from said bore through its lower endby imposition of duid pressure against said upper end and against thedeformable member.

3. A device for introducing fluid into a well having a pipe stringarranged therein which comprises a free, rigid cylindrical member havingan open bore and having an outside diameter less than the insidediameter of said pipe string, said cylindrical member being adapted forinsertion in and movement through said pipe string, a deformable sleevexedly attached to the outer surface of said cylindrical member andhaving an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said pipestring, said sleeve being formed to provide vertically spaced apartprotuberances on the outer surface of said sleeve for sealing engagementwith the inner surface of said pipe string, a spherical deformablemember normally arranged in said bore and having a diameter normallygreater than the diameter of said bore, and means formed by saidcylindrical member on its upper end thereof narrowing said bore forretaining said deformable member in said bore, said deformable memberbeing ejectable from said bore through its lower end by imposition ofliuid pressure against said upper end and against said deformablemember.

4. A device for introducing fluid into a well having a pipe stringarranged therein which comprises a tubular member adapted to beconnected into and form part of said pipe string having rst and secondvertically spacedapart seating means formed therein; a free adaptercomprised of a rigid cylindrical member having an open bore and havingan outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said pipe stringand a deformable sleeve iiXedly attached to the outer surface of saidcylindrical member and having an outside diameter less than the insidediameter of said pipe string; said adapter being arranged removably inand movable through said pipe string; said sleeve being formed toprovide protuberances on the outer surface of `said sleeve for sealingengagement with the inner surface of said pipe string; a sphericaldeformable member normally arranged in said bore and having a diameternormally greater than the diameter of said bore; and means formed bysaid cylindrical member on its upper end thereof narrowing said bore forretaining said deformable member in said bore; said deformable memberbeing ejectable from said bore through its lower end by imposition offluid pressure against said upper end and against said deformablemember; said adapter being seatable on said iirst seating means and saiddeformable member Ibeing seatable on said second seating means onejection from said bore.

5. A device for introducing iiuid into a well having arranged therein ahollow drill string carrying a drill bit on its lower end and providedwith a uid passage which comprises drill collars adapted to be connectedinto and form part of said drill string; a rst seating shoulder formedon the upper end of said drill collars and a second seating shoulderadjacent the lower end of said drill collar restricting said iluidpassage; a free adapter comprised of a rigid cylindrical member havingan open bore and having an outside diameter less than the insidediameter of said drill string and a deformable sleeve -xedly attached tothe outer surface of said cylindrical member and having an outsidediameter less than the inside diameter of said drill string; saidadapter being arranged removably in and movable through said pipestring; said sleeve being formed to provide protuberances on the outersurface of said sleeve for sealing engagement with the inner surface ofsaid drill string; a spherical deformable member normally arranged insaid bore and having a diameter normally greater than the diameter ofsaid bore; and means formed by said cylindrical member on its upper endthereof narrowing said bore for retaining said deformable member in saidbore; said deformable member being ejectable from said bore through itslower end by imposition of Huid pressure against said upper end andagainst said deformable member; said adapter being seatable on said rstseating shoulder and said deformable member being seatable on saidsecond seating shoulder on ejection from said bore.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 in which the diameter of the boreis the same as the inner diameter nF the drill collars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS2,238,895 Gage Apr. 22, 1941 2,757,752 Kaufman Aug. 7, 1956 2,836,246Hoch May 27, 1958

